Finally, her husband would have a wedding band. And when he saw what she’d had engraved inside it...
She shivered. Could she be brave enough?
As the Escalade pulled into the gated courtyard of the beach house, Lola was pulled out of her reverie when she heard Tobias’s voice from the front seat. “Mr. Cabrera just sent a message that he’s expecting you, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Tobias.”
She smiled, her heart quickening just at the sound of her husband’s name. Since their last argument, the night he’d returned from San Francisco, Rodrigo had taken no more trips away from the family, not even short ones. He’d drastically cut back his hours at work, in a way she’d never seen before. The reason was clear. He wanted to spend time with Jett.
He wanted to spend time with her.
Every morning, he’d stayed late to have breakfast with them, served on the terrace next to the pool. And nearly every evening, he’d been home in time to join them for dinner, then help with the baby’s bath. On weekends, they’d gone on family excursions, Disneyland, hiking trails in the nearby hills, visiting art museums and the zoo and the farmer’s market, even boating to Catalina Island. All normal things that any family might do. Well, except for the fact that Rodrigo owned the yacht that took them to Catalina.
But tonight, he’d hinted, before they left for New York, he had something extra special planned.
“Not just for Christmas,” he’d told her that morning, nuzzling her in bed. He’d drawn back to give her a serious look as he said huskily, “For always.”
All day, Lola had tried not to think of what it could mean. So of course it was all she could think about.
Now, as Tobias parked the car, she asked suddenly, “How’s your son doing?”
“Great.” The bodyguard grinned. “Both of us are great, Mrs. Cabrera. Thanks to you.”
“Good.” As he got out to open her car door, Lola lingered over the seat belt of her baby’s car seat.
Please. She fervently closed her eyes. Please let Rodrigo’s surprise be him telling me he loves me.
Because she loved him. It was always on the tip of her tongue now. Every time she watched him tenderly hold their baby. Every evening they spent together on the poolside terrace at sunset, drinking a glass of wine after Jett was asleep. Every night he took Lola to bed and moved his hot, sensual body against hers until he set her world on fire.
She loved him. She wanted to scream it to the world. She wanted to look into his rugged features and speak the words, again and again, like a sacred incantation.
Then she wanted him to say the words back to her.
Please, she thought. She didn’t want any expensive gifts for Christmas. She didn’t want anything but this: for her husband to love her.
“Mrs. Cabrera?”
Pasting a smile on her face, Lola lifted her baby out of the car seat. Walking to the front door of the sprawling beach house, she looked up at the tall, slender palm trees, swaying in the wind, silhouetted purple against the lowering sun in the orange and red horizon.
Squaring her shoulders, she carried the baby to the front door, her footsteps echoing against the flagstones. She opened the door.
And gasped.
The great room of the beach house, with its luxurious furniture and double-story window views of the Pacific, had been filled with roses of every color, hundreds of them, pink and red and yellow and white. But that wasn’t even the most amazing part.
Rodrigo stood beside the doorway, devastatingly attractive in a tuxedo, holding out a long-stemmed pink rose.
Lola’s heart slammed against her ribs. Her hand shook as she took the rose. “What’s this?”
He gave her a wicked smile. “Christmas.”
“It’s not even Christmas Eve yet.”
“Tomorrow’s for family.” His dark eyes gleamed down at her. “Tonight’s for us.”
“For us?” A flash of heat went through her, and her cheeks burned. “I thought we’d be getting a Christmas tree tonight.”
“We are. In a way.” He allowed himself a smug smile, then glanced behind him. “Mrs. Lee will be watching Jett.”